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Despite wind, Bears take Tipton by 11
by Matthew Dickinson, sports editor · Sports · April 24, 2024
In a statement dual win Monday night, the West Branch boys’ golf team defeated Tipton 159-170 and had both medalists on a windy evening.
“For us to shoot 159 with the conditions as they were–we had spotty rain and the wind was howling yet again–for us to keep it sub-160 was a very solid round,” Bears Head Coach Randy Sexton said. “We felt good about our scratch scores, we’re all right together again. As those keep coming down, it’s good to see as well.”
Freshman sensation McGavin Smith, recently re-inserted into the varsity lineup after battling injuries, led the field with an astonishing 35. Smith accomplished the feat by achieving birdie on four of the nine holes while making par on two other occasions. The mark tied him with several other golfers for the 11th-best nine-hole round in Class 2A as of April 23.
“He really came on,” the coach said of Smith. “We’ve known he was capable of going low for quite some time, and it’s good to see him put it together today.”
Fellow freshman Sawyer Jeffries also turned in a strong performance with a 39. Jeffries had four pars and a birdie in the steady outing.
“Sawyer, he’s been kind of having one hole that’s kind of ruined his round,” Sexton said of Jeffries, adding that he hopes the performance is a “springboard” for low scores down the road.
West Branch had steady performances in the rest of the lineup. Bryce Anderson turned in a 42, while Cameron Gingerich had a 43. Bradyn Sexton carded a 44, while Paxton Tisinger rounded out the varsity golfers with a 45.
“Looking at our hole-by-hole scores, it could have been a lot better for some of the guys,” the coach said. “There were a lot of guys knocking on the door, but there was just a hole or two where it got away from them. If we get those cleaned up a little bit, the potential is certainly there for us to go lower than where we were today.”
Other golfers turned in strong efforts down the lineup. In the junior varsity ranks, Nolan Staker earned medalist honors with a 38 while Reece Druecker was the runner-up medalist with a 42. In the extra unit for West Branch’s deep roster, Connor Sexton broke the 50-stroke mark with a 46. The coach said that the team has been rotating golfers throughout the lineup, adding that he is pleased to see the development from golfers at that level.
The Bears will end the week with an April 23 tournament at West Liberty before an April 25 home tournament put together with a handful of teams wanting to get in extra work after an April 16 tournament at Wahkonsa Golf Course in Durant was canceled due to weather. The extra competitions will help prepare the team for the upcoming conference meet next week, according to Sexton.
“You kind of ramp up all year to these bigger events,” he said, adding that the two tournaments will help get his golfers adjusted to walking 18 holes with their bags while also working on course strategy.
Team scores: 1. West Branch 159 2. Tipton 170.
West Branch scores: McGavin Smith 35 (medalist); Sawyer Jeffries 39 (runner-up medalist); Bryce Anderson 42; Cameron Gingerich 43; Bradyn Sexton 44; Paxton Tisinger 45.
Tipton scores: Gavin Roth 42; Brody Marchik 42; Finn Williams 42; Jett Kamberling 44; Cayden McCarty 47; Hunter Daisy 49.
Junior varsity team scores: 1. Tipton 188 2. West Branch 203.
West Branch scores: Nolan Staker 38 (medalist); Reece Druecker 42 (runner-up medalist); Ethan Miller 50; Reed Brooke 53; Nathan Hills 53; Gavin Oxley 58.
Tipton scores: Kendrick Heffernan 43; Gavin Sorgenfrey 44; Vince Lower 50; Owen Steinman 51; Brennan Esbeck 55; Lucas Sutton 55.
West Branch other: Connor Sexton 46; Cole Crosthwaite 51; Dylan Schiele 51; Max Lodge 51; Garrett Sotzen 52; Tate Lynch 54; Sullivan Brooke 54; Jeremy Budreau 54; Shay Kinsinger 55; Mason Pedersen 56; Ian Nelson 59; Bodee Morehead 60; Jackson Marcy 61; Cael Nelson 62; Kalvin Clemens 64.
Tipton other: Mason Burmeister 47; Jon Brown 49; Aiden Hodgden 50; Anton Slach 50; Lucas Yerrington 54; Kyler Batzkiel 57; Carsten Kime 59; Brayden Voss 64
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